Help!! my guinea pig bites!!?

Question

I have had this guinea pig for about a month now, and he bites. Store says they won't take him back, it's been too long. Any ideas of how to break the habit before he really hurts someone?

Answer 1

Animals bite because they want to be absolutely sure they have your attention. In a small animal like a guinea pig, especially since it came from a pet store and could have been handled roughly, the message is probably "put me down." If he's aggressive even before you pick him up, he's just making really, really sure that he stays in control of the situation, because he's terrified. You need to help him feel in control, and associate being handled with good things.
Control comes first. Put your hand near him, and if he goes to bite, take your hand away and come back in an hour or so and try again. Watch him as he stops what he's doing and turns toward you: this is so you can get a feel for his body language, so you can tell he's getting nervous before he actually bites. Eventually, you'll be able to get your hand out when your guinea pig flinches in your direction, and he'll know he doesn't have to get nasty to get you to leave.
At the same time, offer him a little treat when you visit. At first, just drop it in the cage. As he gets more tolerant, keep it on your hand so that you take it out when you get your hand out of the cage, so that he'll have to eat from your hand and be patient with you to get a reward. From here you can move on to petting him on one side, so he has plenty of room to move away from you if he doesn't like it.
Allow two weeks of this (I have no real figure to base this time on) before you start taking him out of the cage. At first, make it very quick, just up, out, and back in. Later, take him out long enough to give him a little treat. Use your skills at reading his body language to know when he's had enough, and put him back immediately. Don't treat him in the cage by this point, or at least, don't give him his favorite treats. If he starts getting panicky over a few sessions, go back to stage one.
Once he's comfortable being carried around in your arms (a month?) start letting other people pet him, just on one side so he has room to move away. Train him to accept them the same way you did to accept you. Don't hesitate to tell people to back off, since you don't want to ruin your hard work or see them bleeding. Everyone should move slowly around the guinea pig, and strangers shouldn't touch him, at least, until he has a radical personality flip.
He's going to stay in his cage a lot, but that's fine. He can't learn to trust you if he doesn't start to feel safe.

Answer 2

Okay, you may not like this, but it will work:

Do you have a dog or cat... or a friend with one? I've owned guinea pigs, dogs, cats... I am an animal lover and believe that if a little training helps an animal live in its environment, it will be happier than other options.

A guinea pig will bond with its best option. Allow the dog or cat around while the guinea pig is inside its cage. IF SAFE, allow the dog or cat to see the pig while in your hands. When the dog or cat barks or otherwise shows aggression toward the pig, pick the pig up (with gloves if necessary) and baby it.... I mean really baby it. Make shhh and high-pitch happy noises. After only a few days, this works EVERY time. The pig learns that you are the protecting member of its group... you are safe and the world is not.

After it doesn't bite, be sure to hold it at least every-other day. If there are multiple pigs, seperate the biting pig. Pigs together can bond and reject you.

If this isn't an option, try hand feeding it fresh vegetables, dandelions, etc. Don't give it fresh food except from your hand until tame. This takes longer, but will work over 6 to 8 weeks... and doesn't require risk.

Good luck.

Answer 3

As a general rule, guinea pigs are gentle creatures which do not tend to be "bitey". Whenever they are, there is almost always a reason.

First of all, I'd take him to an exotics vet and have him treated for mange mites. They're a very common guinea pig parasite, and they're invisible to the naked eye. However, they are very painful to guinea pigs. Imagine your are being covered in mosquito bites, and someone grabbing you there and pulling. Mites often show themselves as thinning patches of hair, excessive scratching, and scabs. However, some pigs do not display such symptoms. My own pig, Gizmo, had a horrendous case of mites, and the only symptom he displayed was suddenly not wanting to be picked up.

Your vet should treat your guinea pig for mites with Ivermectin or Revolution. These two drugs are the only ones that are safe for guinea pigs and work on mites. Do not let them give you any shampoos or dips, as washing pigs with mites is very painful to them.

After 3-4 treatments for mites 7-10 days apart, try working with your guinea pig again.

If he's still biting after his mite treatments, try teaching him that lap time is a good thing. Herd him into a box, and pick up the box instead of touching him, and feed him lots of healthy veggie snacks so that he'll learn to associate you with good things.

Finally, make sure you wash your hands before picking him up. If you smell like a yummy salad, pigs are likely to try and take a chunk out of you to see how you taste!

Answer 4

Check out biting guinea pigs on google, many places to visit!

Answer 5

Give him those colored blocks of soft wood from the pet store to knaw on. That is kind of unusual for a guinea pig to bite that much, though. Give him awhile to get out of the baby stage and see if it cures itself with age.

Answer 6

Is someone teasing him? Maybe when you aren't around someone is being mean and he doesn't trust anyone anymore.
Try letting him come out of the cage on his own. Maybe he's territorial and will be less nippy on more neutral territory, like your bathroom, or a GP safe playpen.
From now on all things good and yummy come from you. Only pellets in his dish. Fruit, veggies, and treats should only be enjoyed in your presence. Animals can usually be bribed.
BTW, any teasing needs to stop. Give the meanie a good whack for me. NO, just kidding!!! LOL!!!

Answer 7

Talk to him because he is probably scared. Whenever you go near him encourage him to bite the carrot rather than you. Sometimes guinea pigs mistake fingers for carrots. Ours does.

Answer 8

Biting is one very important way for them to communicate. Generally, you need to figure out what your guinea pig is trying to tell you, because it may be something minor that is bothering him or her, or it could be something serious.

Here are some common reasons behind biting:
http://www.cavyspirit.com/biting.htm

Answer 9

Is he biting you when you are holding him? Could be the way you hold him. get a book from your local library and read it. The books are great!! He will stop.:)

Answer 10

it bites because it either trying to protect itself. or u are holding it wierd ,or even if u play rough with it . you are mean to it . there is lots of reasons .